The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) has kicked off in Morocco, with 16 nations competing for continental glory and qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The expanded tournament, which has grown from 12 to 16 teams, features defending champions Nigeria, who are chasing a record-extending 11th WAFCON title after winning 10 of the 13 editions held since 1998.
Only Equatorial Guinea, with two titles, and South Africa, with one, have previously interrupted Nigeria’s dominance. Equatorial Guinea, however, failed to qualify for this year’s competition.
Hosts Morocco, runners-up in the last two editions, headline Group A alongside Algeria, Senegal and Kenya. South Africa lead Group B, where they will face Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
Nigeria are drawn in Group C with Zambia, Malawi and Egypt, while Group D features Ghana, Cameroon, Mali and Cape Verde.
The group stage runs from July 26 to August 6, followed by the quarter-finals on August 8 and 9. The semi-finals are scheduled for August 12, while the third-place match will be played on August 15. The tournament concludes with the final in Rabat on August 16.
2026 WAFCON groups
Group A: Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Kenya
Group B: South Africa, Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso
Group C: Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, Egypt
Group D: Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde
Previous WAFCON champions
1998 – Nigeria
2000 – Nigeria
2002 – Nigeria
2004 – Nigeria
2006 – Nigeria
2008 – Equatorial Guinea
2010 – Nigeria
2012 – Equatorial Guinea
2014 – Nigeria
2016 – Nigeria
2018 – Nigeria
2020 – Tournament cancelled (COVID-19)
2022 – South Africa
2024 – Nigeria